"FutureSex/LoveSounds," the second and most recent album by pop singer Justin Timberlake, was released more than six years ago. He's hardly been quiet since then: Timberlake has been a frequent guest on tracks by other stars, including Madonna, 50 Cent, T.I., Jamie Foxx, and "FutureSex" collaborator Timbaland. But a parallel Hollywood career has occupied his attention and prevented him from crafting a proper follow-up to his chart-topper.

This may have changed. Earlier today, Timberlake posted a video message on his site that heavily hinted that he'll have new material for his fans soon. Calling music his first love, the star blamed the long break from record-making on his perfectionism. The minute-long clip, which closes with Timberlake at a microphone, fades to a countdown clock set to go off in three days. Chances are, once that timepiece has wound all the way down to zero, there'll be news of a fresh release.

The teaser says little else. Fans of Timberlake might like to know, for instance, whether the star is again working with Timbaland, or Nate "Danja" Hills, the producers responsible for the spacious, playful sound of "FutureSex/LoveSounds." Three songs from "FutureSex" topped the American Top 40: "My Love," "What Goes Around... Comes Around," and the Timberland signature track "SexyBack." The trippy "LoveStoned" might have been better than any of them, and its arrangement set the tone for much of the avant-R&B to follow.

If Timberlake does indeed have new songs for us this spring, he'll be in fine company. Paramore, the Franklin, Tennessee power-pop band that leapt from the Warped Tour circuit and the Bamboozle stage to international fame, is preparing an April 9 release of its fourth album. A minute-long teaser (is this a new marketing trend?) of lead single "Now" was posted to the 'net yesterday. The clip catches singer Hayley Williams in the studio with her bandmates — but includes very little of her wall-shaking voice.

Her group has some big questions to answer. The upcoming album will be self-titled, and there's good marketing reasons for that: It'll be the first not to feature brothers and founding members Zach and Josh Farro on guitar and drums. Ilan Rubin, who hit the skins for Nine Inch Nails and Angels & Airwaves, is on the drummer's stool for "Now," but he's not an official member of the group. "Now" will be released in full on Jan. 22.

A week later, it'll be joined in the iTunes store by a greatest-hits package from Destiny's Child. "Love Songs" will include a new song — the first from the singing group in close to a decade. "Nuclear" is produced and co-written by Pharrell Williams of the Neptunes, a producer who has worked with Beyoncé Knowles on several solo hits, including "Work it Out" and "Green Light." Refreshingly, Knowles felt no pressing need to release a teaser.